If You Lived Here Trivia Quiz

Answer: Mancunian

Manchester derives its name from Mancunium, which is what the Romans called it. The 'chester' suffix (from the Old English 'ceaster', which is a corruption of the Latin 'castra') indicates that it was a walled town in Roman times.

Answer: Brummie

The local name for my home town of Birmingham is Brummagem, hence Brummie. Because Birmingham was once noted for its output of imitation jewellery, toys, and household pots and pans made of inferior metals, Brummagem became a synonym for 'cheap' or 'worthless'.

As a proud former Brummie (I was born there), I want to point out that not everything made in Birmingham is cheap and worthless - especially me. Since the 18th century the city has also been noted for its fine jewellers, silversmiths and goldsmiths.

Answer: Haligonian

I couldn't find any information as to why a citizen of Halifax is a Haligonian and not a Halifaxite, or Halifaxer, or even a Halifaxene.

Answer: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The term Carioca derives from a Tupi-Guarani phrase meaning 'white man's home' - cari = white man, oca = home. (Tupi-Guarani is an indigenous Brazilian language). The first European settlers in what is now Rio de Janeiro built their homes on a river bank, and the river itself became known as the Carioca.

The locals claimed healing powers for its waters, which caused neighbouring peoples to refer to them derisively as Cariocas. The name stuck, and is now worn proudly by the people of Rio.

Answer: Liverpudlian

Residents of Liverpool weren't always called Liverpudlians. It was an unknown person in the 19th century who, deciding that Liverpool was not nearly big enough to be a pool, referred to the port town as Liverpuddle and its residents as Liverpudlians. How rude! The name stuck simply because Liverpudlians have a well-developed sense of humour! One could also refer to a Liverpudlian as a Scouse. Scouse derives from a thick meaty stew called lobscouse which seems to have been a dietary staple for sailors in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Since Liverpool was a port, there were probably lots of people there who appreciated a big dish of lobscouse.

Answer: Damascus, Syria

The residents of Damascus are called Damascenes, and so is the type of steel which was forged there. In the Middle Ages, swords made of damascene steel were highly prized for their strength and beauty. In addition to steel, a fine figured cloth was also made in Damascus. We know it as damask.

Answer: Madrileno

I found an obscure reference that maintained that the word Madrileno is of Chinese origin, but it didn't give any details, so I can't substantiate that, and I find it hard to believe. The female residents of Madrid are called Madrilenas. There is a tasty, clear consomme, flavoured with tomato juice, which the French call Consomme a la Madrilene, so maybe the Madrilenos/Madrilenas got their name because they served up a lot of madrilene?

Answer: Glaswegian

Alternatively, you could call a Glasgow native a Weegie and he or she wouldn't take offence. Glasgow gets its name from the Gaelic Ghlaschu, meaning 'dear green place'. After London, Glasgow is the British paradise for shoppers!

Answer: Cardiffian

Boy, that's bland coming from a country noted for its elegant turn of phrase! Cardiff is the capital of Wales, which really upsets the inhabitants of Machynlleth. Machynlleth is a beautiful town in mid-Wales, just north-east of Aberystwyth, and it is where Owain Glyndwr, the last great hero of Wales, established his parliament. On this basis, Machynlleth claimed its right to be the capital. How do I know this? I spent my childhood years in Machynlleth and took my first ballet lessons in Owain Glyndwr's parliament building.

Answer: Cairene

According to Wikipedia, Cairo is the largest city in the Middle East, with (as of November,2005) a population of 15.2 million in its metropolitan area. It is the 16th largest city in the world (as of November, 2005).